Vicki Newman

A NEW environmental team is hoping to brighten up a South Tyneside neighbourhood.

Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle’s first project has reached immediate fruition.

It’s great that the baskets have brought some much welcome colour to the lanes in Tyne Dock and that they will be cared for by the residents.

Alene Lee, Groundwork’s green and healthy places manager

On its first day, staff gave out 100 flower-filled hanging baskets to residents to place outside their homes in Tyne Dock, South Shields.

The year-long scheme aims to enliven gardenless terraced streets and encourage householders to help brighten up their neighbourhoods.

Alene Lee, Groundwork’s green and healthy places manager, said: “The green team initiative will enliven streets that have no greenery at all.

“It is important to residents that neighbourhoods are made as light and bright as possible, and this is a great way of doing it.

“We very much need people of all ages living here to take part to make the project as successful as possible. They have already shown they are keen to be part of it by their excellent response to our hanging basket day.

“It’s great that the baskets have brought some much welcome colour to the lanes in Tyne Dock and that they will be cared for by the residents.” Groundwork’s three-strong green team will work in John Williamson Street and adjoining roads.

Its weekly half-day Monday sessions will focus on clearing back lanes and yards and helping residents improve the appearance of shared street planters.

On Monday, the project’s seeds were sown when residents filled hanging baskets with compost and plants at an open event at housing association Affinity Sutton’s Tyne Dock Hub office.

The London-based firm owns 57,000 properties nationwide, including several at Tyne Dock, and it paid for the hanging baskets.

Matt Parsonage, its head of neighbourhood investment, said: “We are committed to investing in our neighbourhoods to making them safe, attractive places that people want to live and play in.”

Residents who requested a hanging basket, but who could not attend the event, will have them delivered to their homes and installed by Groundwork.

Those wishing to get involved can contact Jed Tubman at Groundwork on 428 1144 or by e-mail at jed.tubman@groundwork.org.uk